THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO AN UPDATE REMINDER IN 2020 SO THERE IS NO UPDATE.
My journey to getting prostate cancer started about 6 yrs ago, with a PDS that slowly rose from about a 3 to 8 in those years, 3 biopsies, the third one finally showing cancer in Nov of 2012. After going through the usual tests, a mass was found on the tail of my pancreas. That needed to be addressed first. After a biopsy showed negative, doctors suggested it be removed. So in Jan 2013 I had surgery, everything went well and the pathology reports were negative. Prior to surgery my urology Doctor recommended a Hormone shot that would last 6 months, to control the cancer. 3 months after surgery the pancreas had a small leak that caused me to get very sick. A drain was put in from the pancreas to the stomach, to drain off the pancreas, which is still there today, hoping to come out soon. In July 2012 another Hormone shot good for 6 months.
Now for the prostate cancer. I had a long time to think about what treatment I would use. I wasn't looking forward to surgery again. That is what I went for, surgery was on 12/3/13. Surgery was a hard choice for me. I kept leaning towards radiation because I thought it would be easy [no pain] but deep down I knew surgery was the best option for me. You tend to forget about what the last surgery was like over time. So for now my post surgery is going very well, there is no easy way in a journey with prostate cancer. The way I feel is if you have it, you have to do something about it.
I found that doctors won't recommend a treatment, they just give books and say do your research. I say if you are young and healthy get it out of there. Find a doctor you trust.
It has been just over a year having my prostate removed [robotic prostate surgery] it has gone very well. My life is back, I feel good, I have a sex life again, not prefect but good, do not need to take Cialis. Very happy with my decision to have the prostate removed.
I still go every 6 months for a PSA test and check up with my urologist. My life is basically back to normal.
Recent doctors visit, everything staying the same, no changes to report.
Recent doctors visit PSA undetectable.
Gary R's e-mail address is: ghoc90 AT hotmail.com (replace "AT" with "@")
NOTE: Gary R has not updated his story for more than 15 months, so you may not receive any response from him.